MY NEW BOOKS, MY OLD STORIES – released today

I believe it’s called a ‘shelfie’ when an author takes photos of his own books. Technically this feat should be performed in a bookstore, ideally in front of a major display in the shop window. I’m in the wrong country for doing that, so I had to put my advance copies on my own shelf.

I’m hoping people will judge my new books by their covers, because these ones look terrific, and they’ve been released into stores and online today.

Thanks, Terry Denton, for the fabulous illustrations. And thanks, Random House, for rejacketting and republishing these collections. They were originally published in 2008 and sold respectably then. But in this throw-away, disposable, short-attention-span world, any author should be delighted when his books get a rerun.

For those who can’t nip into a bookstore in Australia to buy hard copies, they are available online or as downloads. You can find them with a click HERE and HERE. Cheapskates can even read a sample story for free.

Excellent Christmas presents for 5-10 year olds!

FROM PAGE TO STAGE – thoughts on turning books into plays.

Although kids’ books can be bestsellers, it’s notoriously hard to get serious mainstream media attention for children’s literature.

Only a few times a year do our major Australian newspapers run reviews of childrens’ books, and when they do the reviewer usually gets ridiculously few words to sing the praises of several books in the one article. ‘Top Picks for Christmas’ – that kind of thing.

Which is why specialist websites like Kids’ Book Review, run by dedicated, informed, intelligent volunteers, are so important. Have a look at this site if you have any interest in reading, writing, children or education. That should cover just about everybody!

I was happy to contribute a piece they’ve just published; some notes about adapting novels for the stage…

“If it’s a good book…all the playwright has to do is type it out, omitting the ‘he said’s and ‘she sneered’s, and assume the story will entertain an audience for an hour or two. It ought to be a pushover. Very occasionally it is. Very often it’s not.”

You can read my full article HERE. Nice pics of the writer too!